Date: Thu, 06 May 1999 13:27:59 -0700
From: Clare Howell
Subject: IYF-Transexual Menace Plans APA Protest
MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Editor: Clare Howell, clare@gpac.org
TRANSEXUAL MENACE TO PROTEST APA OVER GID
=========================================
[Washington, DC: 6 May 99] THE PROTEST GROUP TRANSEXUAL
Menace will hold a peaceful demonstration at the annual
conference of the American Psychiatric Association (APA)
in Washington, DC at 11:30 AM on Saturday, 15 May 99. At
issue is the continued diagnosis of gender-different
children and adults with Gender Identity Disorder (GID).
This protest comes at a time when national gay
groups are poised to push for GID reform. The National
Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) called for such reform
in 1996. Said Riki Wilchins, Executive Director of
GenderPAC, "It's appalling that children as young as 3
or 4 are being diagnosed and 'treated' to prevent them
from being gender-different. The APA is not practicing
medicine on these children, it's acting as society's
gender police."
The diagnosis of GID in adults in more complex.
Transexuals seeking hormones and sex-reassignment surgery
are forced to accept a diagnosis of 'gender disorder' as
as pre-condition for treatment or cost reimbursement.
"Unfortunately this diagnosis will follow them for the
rest of their lives," said Wilchins. "Twenty years after
my diagnosis I still cannot get individual health
insurance, disability insurance, or life insurance
because every application asks, 'Have you ever been
diagnosed with a mental illness?'"
NGLTF's position, endorsed also by GenderPAC,
calls for eliminating the GID diagnosis in children and
gay adolescents entirely and its reform to a non-
stigmatizing physical diagnosis in adults. But progress
toward implementing this position has been absent.
"Millions of Americans were once stigmatized and
'treated' for the disorder of homosexuality until that
diagnosis was reformed," said Wilchins. "Those who should
know better and are in a position to help us--the Gay,
Bisexual, and Lesbian (but not transgender) Caucus of the
APA--have been silent on this issue. Gay and genderqueer
people are being grievously hurt by this diagnosis. Why
won't queer doctors take on the case of queer kids and
adults?"
The demonstration is planned for the main entrance
of the Washington Convention Center. Interested parties
should contact danapriesing@earthlink.net
###
Subscriptions. Please contact:
Subscribe@Gpac.org
For prior releases, check the
GenderPAC website at:
http://www.gpac.org
(c) 1999 InYourFace
GenderPAC's online news-only
service for gender activism.